Taiwan finance minister to attend APEC meeting in Hong Kong

Taiwan Finance Minister Chuang Tsui-yun ​will attend a meeting ‌of APEC ​finance ministers in Hong Kong next week, her ministry said on Tuesday, at a time when Beijing has stepped ‌up military and political pressure on Taipei.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation grouping is one of the few international bodies that includes Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, and ‌China is this year's host, with a leaders summit scheduled for November in ‌the southern city of Shenzhen. China has rejected repeated offers of talks by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying he is a "separatist", and its military operates around Taiwan on an almost daily basis. Lai says only ⁠Taiwan's people ​can decide their ⁠future.

Chuang will, "as is customary", attend the October 20 to 21 APEC meeting held in Hong Kong, ⁠her ministry said in comments sent to Reuters. The Hong Kong government said in an emailed ​statement that it welcomes delegates from all APEC member economies to Hong Kong for ⁠the meeting.

Taiwan's Labour Minister Hung Sun-han travelled to China's Nanjing last month, also for an APEC ⁠event. The ​island takes part in APEC under the name "Chinese Taipei", which it also uses for the Olympics.

Lower-level Taiwanese officials have attended other APEC events in China, whose ⁠government views Taiwan as a Chinese province. Taiwan has yet to announce who will attend ⁠the APEC leaders' summit, ⁠though its presidents never go.

Taiwan normally sends former officials or business executives as its APEC envoy.